Sometimes
blind and visually impaired children come to preschool or kindergarten with
less than average strength in their hands and fingers. This is the age that
pre-reading and reading and writing activities should formally begin for children.
Even if your child is not a future tactile reader, it is wise to spend time
playing with him or her to develop arm, hand, and finger strength. Below is
a partial list of activities you and your child might enjoy while doing just
this. As you play you will find other activities which use these muscles. The
goal is for your child to do the activity independently. But above all, have
fun!

Arm
and Hand Strength:

Weight-bearing
activities such as: playing as a human wheelbarrow; creeping up hills or
over obstacles; pushing a wagon, weighted box, or loaded sandbox trucks; and
doing yoga positions: cat, cobra.

Grip
and Finger Strength:

tearing
paper and fabrics; squeezing water out of sponges, washcloths; squeezing bulb
syringe medicine droppers; cutting with scissors on different textures and fabrics;
using a paper-hole punch; playing with Play-Doh and bread dough; playing with
manipulative toys—Legos®, TinkerToy® sets, snapblocks, pop beads; playing rope
pull, tug of war; holding on to rope or hoop while being pulled on scooter;
using clothespins; using tools—hammer, saw, screwdriver, nuts and bolts; using
tongs or tweezers to pick up small objects; playing with magnets; opening jars
and containers with lids; turning knobs or dials, pushing buttons; typing on
manual typewriter; bowling; squirting water from empty soap bottle or squirt
gun; “water painting” with large brush; doing simple cooking activities—stirring
batters; using garlic press, potato masher, juicer, hand mixer, sifter, pouring
water from one container to another; and using cookie cutters with Play-Doh
or cookie dough; playing wash day—wringing out water from cloth and hanging
on clothesline with clothespins; using stick or spoon handle to draw in wet
sand; solving puzzles made from rubber; placing clay into plastic lid, patting
smooth, and drawing pictures on it with pencil or stick; crumpling paper (vary
the weight) and tossing to a target; tying knots (vary weight and density of
cord); operating a stapler; opening rubber bands with one hand and placing on
a tube or dowel; popping packing bubbles; and using easy grip pegs and pegboards.

This
list of activities is provided with the cooperation of Peggy Jensen. Occupational
Therapist, Marysville, Washington.